There is no external zip file needed when using this method. However, if you are using a restricted device (e.g., a work computer or a locked-down Firestick with no repository access), you may need the manual ZIP.
| Issue | Solution | | :--- | :--- | | “Install from zip file” is greyed out | Go to Settings → System → Add-ons → Turn on (only for third-party ZIPs – not needed for official Backup addon). | | Backup fails halfway | Check free space on destination drive. Kodi backups can exceed 2GB. | | Cannot find the ZIP after download | Use a file manager addon like “EZMaintenance+” to navigate to Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files/.kodi/addons/ | Kodi Backup Addon Zip Download
program.script.module.backup-1.6.0.zip
While the manual method is valid, it can be difficult to navigate file systems on devices like the Amazon Firestick. The is widely considered the superior solution because it handles the file paths for you and can even archive your setup directly to cloud storage or a local network drive. There is no external zip file needed when using this method